Sheet or signature gathering machine.



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N0. 658,8l2. Patented Oct. 2, i900.

SHEET 0R SIGNATURE GATTiERING MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 4, 1899.) (H0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet lI.

N0. 653,8I2. Patented 0G12. 2, |900. D. G. SMYTH.

SHEET OB SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 4, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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' while the advancing portion is raised.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID Gr. SMYTH, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SHEET OR SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE.

sPcIFIcA'rIoN forming para of Letters Patent No. 658,812, dated oaobera,1900.

Application filed October 4, 1899.

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, DAVID G. SMYTH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hart ford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet orSignature Gathering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and novel means for raising one sheet orsignature ata time from a pile of sheets, moving the same forward, anddelivering it upon a conveyer onto which the sheets or signatures areassembled in the proper order. The devices employed are alike for eachpile of sheets or signatures.

In carrying ont'my invention I employ a swinging table for supportingthe pile of superposed sheets or signatures, and I employ devices forengaging the advancing end of each sheet or signature and' momentarilyholding down the rear portion of thel same I also employ devices forraising the sheet or signature bodily and swinging the same forwardclear of the pile of superposed sheets or signatures above the conveyerand means for stripping the sheet or signature from the de- Vices thathave raised and moved the same forward and delivering the sheet orsignature on a conveyer.

In the drawings, Figure lis an elevation and partial vertical sectionrepresenting my improvements in the normal position. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation and partial section of the parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is adetached view showing the advancing end of the sheet or signature asraised from the pile of sheets or signatures, and Fig. 4. is anelevation representing the parts conveying the sheet or signature ashaving moved forward into the position where the sheet or signature isdetached.

The parts illustrated in the drawings are alike foreach pile of sheets.I have only illustrated the parts with reference to one pile ofsignatures, and I have only represented the parts for moving a sheet orsignature at a time, the other parts of the machine being well known andforming no part of my present invention.

The frame of the machine is composed of Serial No. 732,463. (No model.)

the intermediate portions a, that are alike, and the end portions,including the upward extension a' and the outward extension or bracketa2, only one end being shown. The bracket a2 supports the inclined shelfb, the lower edge of which is upturned, and e represents a part of aconveyor of usual construction for gathering the sheets or signaturesand conveying the same away.

A swinging table dis pivoted at lin the frame a, and at the pivot a pawldevice 2 is provided, and attached to the table d is an inclined arm 3,with an adjustable weight. Upon the table d is an adjustable guide 4,and an apron 5 of curved contour is secured to the frame a.

forward of the free end of the table d, the pile of superposed sheets orsignatures being l upon the table d between the guide 4 and the apron'5. The pawl device 2 allows the table d to swing by the action oftheweight upon the arm 3, so as to raise the superposed pile of signaturesor sheets as the number thereon is reduced; but this pawl deviceprevents the table moving in the opposite direction. This oppositemovement is effected by hand by the release of the pawl device. A4normally vertical bar e passes through yokebearings f, and a shaft hinsuitable bearings upon'the upward extension a' of the frame carries theyoke -bearings f, and upon this shaft h there is secured an arm 'L'. Thearm i is securely fastened to the shaft, while the yoke-bearings f areloose upon the shaft. A stop 6 on the frame extension a' limits thedownward movement of the yoke-bearings f, and the spring 7, fastened tothis frame extension a and to the yoke-bearings f, draws the sameagainst the stop, so as to bring the bar e into a vertical position. Thebar e is provided between the yoke-bearings with studs 8 and 9. Atubular cross-head lis provided with a socket receiving the lower end ofthe bar e, the cross-head being clamped to the bar. Passing through thiscross-head is a shaft fm, and a wire frame 10 has its free ends passingthrough the shaft m near its respective ends and clamped thereto byordinary bolts, and around the shaft fm js a spring 1l, one end of whichis fastened to the shaft m and the other end to the cross-head Z, and Iprovide a pin 13, projecting from the shaft lml and moving through aslot in the cross- IOO head Z, to limit the swinging movement of theshaft fm.

On the base or under side ofv the .tubular cross-head is a divided padl2, preferably having 'a 'surface of gelatin or other suitable adhesivematerial, and I provide adjustable spring stripping-fingers 14 on thedistant edge of the inclined shelf so placed that4 the ngers comebetween and outside of the gelatin-pads 12 when the tubular cross-headbears the relation to the said fingers shown in Fig. 4.

In the operation of the parts t-he weighted pivoted table dsubstantially balances the pile of superpose'd sheets and maintains theuppermost sheet or-signature against t-he under surface of thepad l2, sothat the same adheres to the pad. At the same time the rear end of thewire frame 10 bears upon the sheet or signature. The shaft h may beoperated and the arm 't' swung by a crank-arm 1h and rod h2 from anysuitable source of power.

In the swinging of the shaft h the arm 'L' strikes the stud 8 and raisesthe bar e till the stud 9 strikes the uppermost of the yoke-bearings fand simultaneously raises the advancing end of the sheet or signature,separating the same from the sheet or-signature beneath. This positionis shown in Fig. 3, and in starting the sheet or signature in thismanner I overcome the suction action i between the respective sheets orsignatures of the pile. The pawl device 2 prevents the bar e pushingdown the pile of sheets and the pivoted table d. The further movement ofthe shaft h and arm 1I swings the yoke-bearings f and the bar e forwardinto the position shown in Fig. 4 and with such movement carries alongthe sheet or signature adhering to v the pad l2. At the end of themovementin this direction the spring stripping-fingers 14 pass betweenand at each side of the pad 12, bearin g against the uppersurface of thesheet or signature, and so stripping the same from the adhesive pad, thesheet or signature falling upon the inclined shelf b and upon theconveyer c, which moves the same along. The reverse movement of theshaft allows the spring 7 to act to draw back the bar e and theyoke-bearings with the movement of the shaft, so that the bar e is notlowered until it assumes a vertical position, where the yokebearingscome against the stop 6, and the further movement of the shaft h and thearm 't' allows the bar e to descend and .again bring the surface of thegelatin pad 12 against the uppermost sheet or signature and the wireframe 10 in contact therewith ready to repeat the operations justdescribed. As this Wire frame 10 is yielding, because of the action ofthe spring 1l in relation to the shaft m, the frame assumes the positionshown in Fig. 1 when the surface ofthe pad 12 is upon the sheets, andwhen the advancing edge of the sheet or signature is raised the Wireframe still holds the rearward -portion of the sheet down upon the pileof sheets or signatures,

as shown in Fig. 3. I liave shown a simple band conveyer c and wheel orroller around which the same passes as a means tor moving the sheets orsignatures deposited thereon; but I do not limit myself in connectionwith the presentldevices to any form of conveyer nor to any form ofadjustable spring stripping-fingers 14.

I claim as my inventionl. In a sheet and signature gathering machine thecombination with the frame and a shield, of a swinging table forsupporting the superposed pile of sheets or signatures, a lpivottherefor and a pawl device adjacent to the pivot to prevent the backwardmovement, an arm connected to the table and an adjustable weight formaintaining the swinging table and for raising the same as the sheets orsignatures are removed and an adjustable guide upon the table comingadjacent to the back edge of the su perposed sheets or signatures,substantially as set forth.

2. In a sheet or signature gathering machine the combination with meansfor supporting a superposed pile of sheets or signatures, of means forengaging the sheet or signature adjacent to the advancing edge, meansfor momentarily holding down the rear portion of the sheet or signatureand for simultaneously'raising the advancing edge and thereafterreleasing the holding-down device, means forthereaftcr swinging thesheet or signature forward, and means for removing and delivering thesheets or signatures to a conveyer, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sheet or signature gathering machine, the combination with meansfor supporting a superposed pile of sheets or signatures, of means forengaging the sheet or signature adjacent to the advancing edge, meansfor momentarily holding down the rear portion 0f the sheet or signatureand for simultaneously raising the advancing edge and thereafterreleasing the holding-down device, means for thereafter swinging thesheet or signature forward, and means for removing and delivering thesheets or signatures to a conveyer,and a means for returning theaforesaid devices to a normal position preparatory to repeating theoperations, substantially as set forth.

4. In a sheet and signature gathering machine, the combination with theframe a, of a curved guide 5, a table d pivoted to the frame andprovided with an adjustable guide 4, a pawl device 2 at the pivot of thetable for holding the table against the return movement, an inclined arm3 and adjustable weight for balancing the weight of the pile ofsignatures and raising the same as the signatures or sheets are removed,substantially as set forth.

5. In a sheet and signature gathering machine the combination withdevices for supporting. a superposed pile of sheets or signatures, of atubular cross-head, a pad on the under side of the same of adhesivematerial,

IIO

a shaft passing through the cross head, a spring around the shaftconnected thereto and to the cross-head, a pin in the shaft and a slotin the cross-head to limit the movement of the shaft and a wire frameconnected adjustably to the said shaft and a means for raising andlowering the cross-head substantially and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a sheet and signature gathering machine the combination with theframe and a shaft having a movement first in one direction and then inthe reverse direction, of an arm fixed upon the shaft, a yoke bearingloosely upon the shaft adjacent tosaid arm, a vertically-moving barpassing through the yoke-bearings, studs upon the shaft between theyoke-bearings and acted upon by the arm of the shaft, a stop upon theframe for limiting the movement of the yoke-bearings and a spring forreturning the yoke-bearings to a normal position and means upon thelower end of the bar for engaging a sheet or signature and elevating thesame, substantially as set forth.

7. In a sheet and signature gathering machine, the combinationwith theframe and a shaft having a movement first in one direcf tion and then inthe reverse direction, of an arm fixed upon the shaft, a yoke bearingloosely upon the shaft adjacent to said arm,'

a vertically-moving bar passing through the yoke-bearings, studs uponthe shaft between the yoke-bearings and acted upon by the arm of theshaft, a stop upon the frame for limiting the movement of theyoke-bearings and a spring for returning the yoke-bearings to a normalposition and a tubular cross-head on the lower end of said bar, adivided gelatin pad upon the lower end of said crosshead, aspring-actuated shaft passing through the cross-head and an adjustablewire frame carried by said shaft and a stop to limit the rotary movementof said shaft, substantially as set forth.

8. In a sheet and signature gathering machine, the combination with aframe and a shaft having a movement first in one direc'- tion and thenin the reverse direction, of an arm fixed upon the shaft, a yoke bearingloosely upon the shaft adjacent to said arm, a vertically-moving barpassing through the yoke-bearings, studs upon the shaft between theyoke-bearings and acted upon by the arm of the shaft, a stop upon theframe for limiting the movement of the yoke-bearings and a spring forreturning the yoke-bearings to a normal position and a tubularcross-head on the lower end of said bar, a divided gelatin pad upon thelower end of said crosshead, a spring-actuated shaft passing through thecross-head and an adjustable wire frame carried by said shaft and a stopto limit the rotary movement of said shaft, and adjustable springstripping fingers adapted to come between and at each side of the pad inthe forward movement of the mechanism for stripping the sheets orsignatures, from the pad, substantially as set forth.

9. In a sheet and signature gathering machine, the combination with theframe and a shaft having a movement first in one 'direction and then inthe reverse direction, of an arm fixed upon the shaft, a yoke bearingloosely upon the shaft adjacent to said arm, a vertically-moving barpassing through the yoke-bearings, studsv upon the shaft between theyoke-bearings and acted upon by the arm of the shaft, a stop upon theframe for limiting the movement of the yoke-bearings and a spring forreturning the yoke-bearings to a normal position, and a cross-head uponthe lower end of the bar and a device on the under side of the samehaving a surface of adhesive material for engaging a sheet or signatureand elevating the same, substantially as specified.

Signed by me this 16th day of September,

DAVID G. SMYTH. Witnesses:

F. W. KREIMENDAHL, CHARLES A. SAFFORD.

